Over the six week cull it is expected 5,000 badgers will be killed in west Somerset and west Gloucestershire.

Every night protesters are going out with torches and whistles to try and stop the cull legally from footpaths.

More extreme groups say they are ready to break the law and trespass.

James Small, a local farmer and representative of the National Farmers Union said the cull has started in Somerset and is being carried out in "an humane and efficient manner".

He said marksmen have already been named on the internet leading to harassment of individuals such as threatening letters, cold calling and trespass.

As a result the NFU have bought an injunction at the High Court against anyone "intimidating" farmers.

Mr Small said the threats have died down since and insisted most local people are willing to support farmers.

"Now the cull has got under way there is a feeling of relief," he said.

"No one is happy to be killing badgers but bovine TB is a real problem for farmers and wildlife and this is part of the solution."

Marksmen are shooting badgers at night using high velocity rifles with infrared sights.

The man targeted by protesters was not available for comment.

Another villager, who wished to remain anonymous, defended "a man just going his job".

She said the protesters are "a pain" blowing whistles and shining torches late at night.

Mrs Sunningdale is taking part in the protests every night and claimed that others will "name and shame" marksmen in their local community.

The mother of two and former worker on a dairy farm said there was a lot of "ill feeling" towards the farmers taking part.

"I will do anything it takes, I will break the law," she said.

However the RSPCA has distanced itself from illegal protest.

Following a complaint to the Charities Commission by the National Farmers' Union, the RSPCA has given categorical assurances that it does not support the naming and shaming of farmers involved in the cull.

Somerset Police have officers on patrol every night in the cull zone and said any complaints of harassment will be taken seriously.

Somerset and Avon police said they had spoken to the "victim", seized one of the posters and were treating the case as "possible harassment".

The original version of this story showed the placard pictured above with the name James Browne. We have been asked to make clear that he was incorrectly named and was not involved in the badger cull. We are happy to set the record straight.